Don't Believe it!!!!

[Jules]

Well, just been called into a meeting at work, our office is closing down and all staff is being relocated to another office. I have been located to one that is an hours drive away!!!!

I am soooo shocked.

They have said i can start my maternity leave from when this office closes in 8 weeks but means i will have to return to work earlier, which i wanted more time with baby. I just dont think when i am 28 weeks plus i will feel able to do the two hour drive per day!!

Even when i return from maternity leave i dont want to commute all that way, at the moment it takes me five minutes to get to work.

Think i should take the early leave? and look for another job when i need to return after maternity leave? will i have to refund them?

 

[Caroline]

You don't have to take early maternity leave. I would ask for a risk assessment to be done. Being 28 weeks pg surely it isn't safe to drive all that distance. I would have though they could maybe cut your hours back a little.

If it ia a risk to you/ baby (surely falling asleep at the wheel is due to long hrs & being pg) they have to accomodate you, & if they can't thenyou go off on full pay until 36 weeks ( then mat leave kicks in). Maybe this is classed under H& S, Helen maybe better to advise.

I would look for another job whilst you are on maternity. Unless you get anything over normal rates of maternity I won't have to pay anything back.. If you get anything over I think it will state in your contract if you have to pay anything back.

Hope you get something sorted soon.

 

[leeanne]

That sucks!

How many weeks off do you get for maternity?

I would be disappointed too, but would wait to see how you feel after the eight weeks and when you've done the drive for a week. That may make your decision right there.

Truthfully, I'd rather have more time with the baby after too, but truly, when it comes to the last weeks of pregnancy you get pretty tired.

 

[Jules]

I get 39 weeks off, 6 weeks paid at full and 33 weeks at just statutory, so not like i am getting a brilliant package or anything! i think i am just going to take the early leave and look for another job when i have to return. my OH has just gone into business this week so hopefully he will be earning enough by that time in 9 months for me not to have to return!!

God thats thrown a spanner in the works!

 

[elles28]

I honestly as someone who has been 28 weeks PG twice before dont think I would be up that drive every day I think if you were used to doing it before being PG it might not be so tiring.......what a shock for you hope you sort it out soon

 

[Shannon]

I dont know how it works with having to pay anything back but if I were you and had to go back to work I would work I would see if they would keep you closer due to your condition if not I would work until no longer possible then just quit and find a new job when its time. In most cases you dont get paid for maternity leave anyway

 

[Miss~Gaby]

I'm not 100% sure of this but it may be worth looking into but there is something about companies re-locating and being obligued to provide transport or compensation (for a limitied time) to existing staff where a need to travel arises. I'd speak to your union rep if you have one or go to your citizens advice and ask there. I know there IS something, but i cant remember what it is.

 

[tinytoes]

if you dont return after maternity leave no you dont need to refund them - as long as you handed in your notice as per your contract (a month in advance? * months?? Check up on this).


I also drive between 40 minutes and an hour each way to work. Not looking forward to this is the summer as I dont have air con.
But you might get used to it - put some music on, have it as "your time"?...time to think about things and to listen to calming music...or even time for you and baby to listen to nursery rhyme CDs?!?

 

[anita665]

My friend had someting similar happen. If they're doing this they're clearly struggling so maybe ask them about being made redundant. That way you can still have your maternity pay and you should get a pay off too.

 

[Linzi]

Sorry to hear that hun, thats awful.

Do you not have any paid holiday time left that you could take before the baby arrives? like say take 2 weeks off beforehand as holiday and then start your mat leave from then? If that makes sense...

xxx

 

[Vickie]

So sorry to hear about your job Not sure about the maternity leave. I'm sure it differs from place to place but in Ontario I was under the impression that if you do not go back to the job you do have to pay back your benefits (but I really don't know much about the subject as I'm not entitled to maternity benefits).

 

[Jules]

Well it got even worse today! they actually shutting down my office in 5 weeks! (i thought it was 9 weeks time) So that means i will have to take 11 weeks maternity plus the 3 weeks annual leave i have accrued and finish in seven weeks time, i will still have to travel to other office for 2 weeks as i can't leave earlier then 4 April.

I can't believe i will be finishing 14 weeks before due date! dont know what i will do with myself! I dont think i will return to this job so i am just going to worry about my return date nearer the time!

 

[Karen23]

What about car share or public transport? If there are other people you work with who live near you, then the likelihood is there will be someone who is willing to drive in each day and give you a lift, especially if you give them a bit of petrol money. That way you can have a snooze in the car. I normally get the bus to work (takes about an hour or an hour and a half door to door) and is knackering, but at least it beats having to concentrate driving. Plus, sometimes i get a car share which is great.
I'm sure that if a work relocates they have to give some kind of package - assuming you live in the UK anyway. Have you got an HR dept at work? Perhaps you can have a word with them. If not, try a citizens advice bureau. It seems ridiculous that they are trying to get you to go on maternity leave early just cos they are moving office. They can only make you go on maternity leave early if it is in your last 2 weeks at work and if there are medical reasons.

 

[x-amy-x]

I'm not sure what your rights are in this situation but they cannot force you to take your maternity leave that soon. I would suggest maybes asking your midwife for some advice because it does seem to be a long journey to be taking and the risks are quite big. Also, the stress this is putting on you is not good for the baby.

If you take all of your maternity leave and decide you will not return to work for your previous employer, you will not have to pay anything back (thanks to new legislation) as long as you give sufficient notice.

Good luck hun

xx

 

[Jules]

I am the only person being located to this office and no one lives near me to give me a lift, they all live in the area where the new office is! I spoke to HR and she had a bit of an attitude, i said i was not up to driving the extra 50 miles per day and she was like "well why not". I said i'm knackered as it is without all the extra driving on top of a days work, i'm waking up at 4am everyday and not been able to sleep. She didn't seem to really care! its like they think i'm over reacting. But its a big change, when your already going through big changes in your personal life!

Thanks for all your advice xxx

 

[Tam]

Sorry to hear about your job......

Ignore her the ignorant cow!

Do what you feel is best for you. I think taking early leave and looking for a new job is a much better idea as you won't have to worry about the journey when baby is here. And trust me when you add traffic to an hours journey, that really adds to the frustration! You would soon hate your job too when you have to spend so much time in your car when you could be at home with baby.

I hope you manage to sort something out x

 

[Karen23]

That is a rubbish HR person! At the end of the day you have to do what is best for you and the baby. i think any non-pregnant person would have a problem with driving an extra 50 miles a day to be honest! It is a big change and you really arent over reacting.
Hope it all gets sorted - dont let them bully you though.